Yan Pin was demoted, and Meng Guifei was triumphant. The atmosphere in the Secluded Hall was predictably tense. As Ji Bozhai stepped inside, a teacup shattered at his feet, followed by Yan Pin’s furious voice from within: "That wretched Meng Shi! That vile woman!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please calm down! Lord Ji is here!"
"Which Lord Ji? What Lord Ji? He is Ming Xian! He is my Ming Xian!" Yan Pin gnashed her teeth, snapping at her maid before realizing what she had said. Quickly smoothing her hair, she turned toward the door.
Ji Bozhai gazed at her softly and bowed. "I hope you are well."
Her eyes brightened, and Yan Pin rushed forward to seize his hand with a fierce grip. "You acknowledge me now?!"
Though her grip was painful, Ji Bozhai didn’t pull away. "After so many years apart, it feels unfamiliar. Calling you 'Mother' is too difficult—Yan Niangniang."
Overjoyed, Yan Pin nodded repeatedly. "It’s fine if you don’t call me that now, it’s fine! As long as you acknowledge me... Have you seen the Minister Superior? What did he say?"
"I just came from him. He said that since I acknowledge you, your status will be restored after the Six Cities Tournament."
"Good! Good! As expected of my son, a child who brings me glory!" Yan Pin beamed but couldn’t resist asking, "What about Meng Guifei?"
"The Minister Superior has no intention of making her Empress. She only holds temporary authority as acting Empress."
At the mention of this woman, Yan Shi clenched her teeth. "She got off easy. That wretch must be overjoyed."
Ji Bozhai followed her inside and sat down, asking casually, "Yan Niangniang dislikes Meng Shi that much?"
"Dislike? If not for the experts guarding her, I’d wish her dead!" Yan Pin blurted out in anger, then immediately regretted her words, casting a guilty glance at him.
Would he think her too cruel?
To her surprise, the man before her didn’t seem upset. Instead, he shared her resentment. "If Yan Niangniang dislikes someone, then I dislike them too."
"You..." Yan Pin was puzzled. "The former Empress of Star Yearn City was Meng Shi’s ally. I heard from Dan Er that you had some connection with her."
"Not much of one," he replied. "If there’s anything I can do for you, Yan Niangniang, just say the word."
Most would be pleased by such an offer, but Yan Pin was skeptical. She was cold and ruthless by nature and didn’t believe in unearned kindness. Yet she couldn’t discern Ji Bozhai’s motives, so she responded vaguely, "I understand."
On the day of the tournament, Mingyi, who had remained at Fanghua Residence, encountered Yan Pin, who had come to visit uninvited.
Old habits died hard—the moment she saw her, Mingyi instinctively tensed.
"What brings you here, Your Highness?" she asked.
Yan Pin had dressed meticulously, her imposing aura undiminished. She cast a disdainful glance at Mingyi and strode inside to sit down. "I heard you’ve been by Ji Bozhai’s side for over half a year."
Mingyi didn’t answer, merely watching as she entered and took a seat, remaining standing by the door.
Yan Pin frowned. "Cat got your tongue? Even if we’re not mother and daughter, we’re still of the same clan. Can’t you show some respect for your elders?"
Veins tightened on the back of Mingyi’s hand as she asked coldly, "What do you want?"
"I want to know what connection Bozhai had with Meng Shi back in Star Yearn City." Yan Pin sneered. "Dan Er’s words were vague, no doubt trying to drive a wedge between mother and son. I want to hear it from you."So she needed a favor, yet still acted so high and mighty?
Mingyi rolled her eyes and went outside to continue forging her soft iron.
Yan Pin initially thought she had gone to pour tea, but after waiting a while with no sign of her return, she followed out and saw Mingyi doing something else entirely. Furious, she snapped, "What kind of attitude is this?!"
Pure white Essence Power enveloped the soft iron, gradually spilling over into the entire courtyard. The immense pressure forced the maids beside Yan Pin to bow their heads, and Yan Pin herself finally realized—belatedly—that the person before her was no longer the little girl she could manipulate at will.
"Fine, you've grown wings now. How splendid," she fumed, still seething. "Asking you a few questions is this difficult? All these years raising you for nothing."
"Brought you countless rewards and high positions for your family—hardly 'for nothing.'" Mingyi lifted her gaze. "You profited handsomely."
Yan Pin choked back her anger, swallowing her rage at Mingyi's retort. After a long silence, she finally said, "If you're willing to tell me, I can arrange for you to leave Sunspire City."
After all, Mingyi couldn’t stay here. As long as she remained, everyone would remember Yan Pin’s crime of deceiving the emperor. Even if Yan Pin regained her position as Empress, she’d never command respect. The best outcome was for Mingyi to never set foot in Sunspire again.
The offer intrigued Mingyi. "Oh? How do you plan to arrange that?"
"A Flying Beast Cart—I have a small one," Yan Pin said. "If I give it to you, you can leave anytime."
That small Flying Beast Cart had been a prize Mingyi won years ago, which Yan Pin had since used for private matters. Mingyi had seen it—though it could only seat about ten people, it would suffice.
After a brief hesitation, Mingyi set down the soft iron. "When Ji Bozhai left the Slave Arena at eleven, he nearly died from poisoning. Meng Shi saved him, and from then on, he considered her his benefactor. After Meng Shi’s wrongful death, he’s been avenging her."
"Avenging her?" Yan Pin frowned.
"Ji Bozhai distinguishes clearly between gratitude and grudges. He doesn’t leave debts unpaid. Meng Shi saved his life—naturally, he’d do everything to repay her."
Yan Pin stared hard at Mingyi. After all these years, she could still tell when Mingyi was lying.
Mingyi met her gaze calmly. "If you want him to help you against Meng Shi, it won’t work. He values gratitude. Unless he truly awakens to the idea that you, his birth mother, matter more, he won’t side with you."
No lies—every word was true.
Yan Pin fell silent.
Ji Bozhai had claimed he’d even oppose Meng Shi for her sake. Did that mean he truly acknowledged her as his mother?
Well, Sunspire City was far more glorious than tiny Star Yearn City. If he wanted to stay here, he’d have to recognize her, and then mother and son could join forces for wealth and power.
It made sense—but she’d have to test it to be sure.
Rising to leave, Yan Pin turned back and cast a cold glance at Mingyi. "I’ve heard about your affairs. I don’t care about the past, but from now on, don’t even think of getting close to Bo Zhai again. He’s the heir of Sunspire City, and the people around him must be chosen by me."
Mingyi scoffed.
Even stripped of her title as Empress, Yan Niangniang’s desire to control others remained as strong as ever. To her, no one was truly human—just obedient puppets.
Ji Bozhai would never fall for that.
The door closed. Mingyi pulled out the map of Sunspire City she’d just drawn and studied the routes carefully. By dusk, Luo Jiaoyang and the others returned."How annoying. We clearly could've won, so why concede?" He angrily flung his outer robe onto the chair. "What is Ji Bozhai thinking!"
Qin Shangwu followed behind but didn't mention the competition. Instead, he quickly walked over to Mingyi and glanced at the map on her table: "Can we get out?"
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